Dead of Night

Modest and reasonably intriguing horror film. Andy (Backus) is reported killed in action, but returns from the grave to seek retribution from the family and small-town society that drove him to enlist in the first place. The film's novelty lies in its observation of Andy's home life; notably the tensions between Mom (impressively played by Carlin) and Dad which degenerate from minor squalls to major sores. Andy emerges as the hapless problem child forced into a vampiric blood habit through the sins of his parents. The film plunges in the final chase sequence, however, where Clark's artless direction strains against almost comic strip events.